In a blustery Bremore, Balbriggan Community College under 17 soccer team opened their Umbro Junior campaign with a 3-1 victory over Colaiste na hInse Laytown.  The game did not start off to well for the Balbriggan men. Just before kick- off they lost their centre half Michael Dunne through injury, he was replaced by Carl Sower who had an excellent game. This looked like having a huge impact on the game as inside the first two minutes Laytown scored from a corner. The ball was whipped in from the right and their centre forward out jumped everybody to head home at the back post. Balbriggan playing against the strong wind in the first had a mountain to climb.
However Balbriggan railed and 15 minutes later equalized with a stunning 25 yard free kick from the impressive captain Derek Moore. It came about from some excellent play by Derek Moore and Darragh Boyne in mid-field, placing a ball over the Laytown defence with Conor Garvey running on bravely and taken down by the out rushing goalkeeper.  It was all Balbriggan and they were making and creating some excellent chances. Some of the link up play between centre forwards Conor Garvey and the midfield of Darragh Boyne and Derek Moore was sublime. With 10 minutes to go in the first half Douti Diarra ran down the left hand side and put in a cross to Keith Perdue who controlled it beautifully and laid it into the path of the on running Darragh Boyne, who struck a superb shot which the Laytown keeper saved brilliantly only for Jack Healy to pounce with a clinical right footed effort and dispatched it past the goal keeper. It was 2-1 to Balbriggan and 10 minutes later referee Joe Boylan blew for half-time.
The second half started with the wind blowing even stronger than it was in the first. This time however it was in favour of the Balbriggan team. They set about straight away to try to extend their advantage. Keith Perdue came close with a lob as he spotted the Laytown keeper of his line. It was all Balbriggan and on 55 minutes they were rewarded for their excellent football. Right back Aaron Mc Elroy played a lovely weighted pass to Conor Garvey on the edge of the Laytown penalty box. Garvey controlled the pass, turned the defender got a shot away all in the same movement. It was an unstoppable effort that hit the Laytown net before their keeper could even move. It was 3-1 to Balbriggan and after that they never looked in danger of losing the lead and at times could have added to it.
With 25 minutes to go Balbriggan made 3 changes on went Paul Dargle, Victor Alkmin and Niall Healy and off went the very impressive trio of Douti Diarra, Aaron Mc Elroy and Jack Healy. This did not upset the team and Balbriggan again went close with Victor Alkmin. Less than 5 minutes had passed when Balbriggan made another 3 changes. Off came another impressive trio of Colm O’ Reilly, Darragh Boyne and Keith Perdue. On went Tosin Toba, Dylan Casey and Emmet Curran.     

Balbriggan Community College under 17 Squad 2011-2012
Back Row(L to R) James Caughran, Samuel Joseph, Stewart Grant, Victor Alkmin, Paul Dargle, Colm O’Reilly,  Peter Donohoe, Nathan Mindomba, Darragh Boyne, Dylan Casey, Jamiu Akuntoye, Emmet Curran,
Front Row (L to R) Michael Dunne, Niall Healy, Douti Diarra, Derek Moore(Captain), Keith Perdue, Carl Sower, Conor Garvey, Aaron Mc Elroy, Jack Healy, Tosin Toki

Balbriggan Community College loose out in thriller!!
On Wednesday last in Bremore, Balbriggan Community College lost 4-3 in a thrilling match against Belvedere College. It was the first game of the Umbro Senior cup and there wouldn’t be too many games with as much excitement as this one.
The game didn’t start to well for Balbriggan as they were 1-0 down after 3 minutes. A corner was swung in from the left and the Belvedere College centre half rose highest and headed powerfully into the net. Balbriggan playing against a very strong wind railled very well and on 15 minutes was level when Keith Coffey converted a penalty to make it 1-1 after a handball in the Belvedere penalty area. This came about from some excellent football and a decent spell of sustained pressure.
In the next 10 minute spell the game saw a host of chances go a begging by both sides. The Balbriggan goalkeeper, Daryl Clarke had to go off injured after bravely saving at the feet of the goal bound Belvedere centre forward. In stepped Dean Mc Grath to replace him. He was only in goals when he produced two remarkable saves in quick succession from point- blank range to keep Balbriggan in the game. At the other end Conor Garvey when on a 40 yard run leaving all the Belvedere defenders in his quake and putting a cross to Keith Coffey, who was somehow denied on the goal line. Then five minutes later Conor Garvey was put through with a pin point ball by strike over the Belvedere defence by strike partner Keith Coffey. With still a lot to do he rounded the defender and placed the shot out of reach of the goalkeeper into the left corner of the net to make it 2-1 on 29 minutes.

With Balbriggan assuming control of the game playing some lovely football and looking very pleasing on the eye they conceded a corner. It was the same outcome as the first corner they conceded. Belvedere played a dangerous ball in from the left hand side and their central midfielder rose highest to head home. It was 2-2 with 10 to go before half time. Again both teams shared changes but it was Balbriggan who struck first. After some great football Conor Garvey was put through on the left side he got to the by line and pulled a ball back to the on rushing Keith Coffey, he controlled it excellently with his right foot turned and shot with his left foot past the Belvedere goalkeeper in the net. It was an excellent goal the best of the game. Then with referee Joe Boylan Just about to blow for half time Belvedere got another corner their third of the half and following the pattern of scoring in the previous two, they did exactly the same with the third. The corner was swung in from the left and their centre half rose highest again to score his second and Belvedere’s third to make it 3-3 at the break.
The second half started very well for Balbriggan and they were very much in the ascendency. In the first fifteen minutes alone they squandered numerous chances to put the game to rest. Conor Garvey was very unlucky not to net at least 3 times. Keith Coffey came very close as did Darragh Boyne. After that spell of Balbriggan pressure the game went into a lull with neither team looking like scoring.  Then Balbriggan made some changes on came Derek Moore and Bob Bokete for Dean Thompson and Keith Perdue. This had an immediate impact. Moore got stuck in won some great tackles, broke up play and used the ball very well. Bokete was only on the field and he had the ball in the net but was adjudged off side by the referee. It was all Balbriggan but they could not score. Then with 5 minutes to go Balbriggan were made to pay. A free kick for Belvedere swung in from the left somehow ended up at the feet of their unmarked centre forward and he put it in the corner of the net. This turned out to be the winning goal.  It was a killer blow. Balbriggan pilled on the pressure in the last 5 looking for an equaliser and came close with Bokete hitting the cross bar with a 20 yard free kick and after a scramble on the line in the last minute Belvedere somehow kept it out to hold on for victory by 4-3.
Best for Balbriggan were Conor Garvey, Keith Coffey, Darragh Boyne and Dean Mc Grath. Goal scorers were Keith Coffey and Conor Garvey 2.

Balbriggan Community College under 19 football squad 2011-2012
Back Row(L to R) Darrell Mooney(Manager), Bob Bokete, Dean Thompson, Dean Mc Grath, Darragh Boyne, Keith Coffey, James Guildea, Barry Mamadou, David Curley, Christian Lotefa, Colm O’ Reilly
Front Row (L to R) Keith Perdue, Douti Diarra, Conor Garvey, Gary Baxter, Derek Moore Jamie Lawler (Captain), Aaron Mc Elroy.